243 Vs 308

[Thar]

With due respect to the person who started the post it is a no-boner really, of cause if you are going to be limited to one rifle and the choice is 243 or 308 the only reason you would pick a 243 would be a medical condition in the shoulder or neck which would stop you shooting the more powerful caliber.

Not such thing as too dead hey?

308 then.

Thar

 

[308boy]

308 Winchester

Hi,

This is an old chestnut this one. If i had to have one rifle full stop. i would have to get a 243. or 6.5x55

but if i had to have one for stalking only it would be the good old 308.

Life changes and everyone has there favourite so i have a the moment:

10/22 LR Ruger
223 Ruger M77
22-250 Remington
243 Tikka 595
308 Sig Sauer

Oh and some shotguns. To be honest I only shoot the LR, 22-250 and the 308 the rest i have kinda accumulated and use for guests.

Everything is moderated apart from the 308 which i have to carry a lot when stalking and as it only gets to bark once in a while I would rather have it lightweight and quick to point..

Nice forum BB or Thar or Kev

 

[Blaser3006]

Thar.

No Boner or not it has started some very useful and informative debate.

My personal choice is, well I shoot a .243, a 30-06 plus a .375 and they all have their place. I also probably split 50 50 between using the .243 and 30 cal.

 

[MarkH]

Hi Guys

I still dont understand the UK love affair with the 243, look at the stats 40% prefer this small calibre.
What is the big advantage over larger more flexible calibres? My initial thought is it was a cultural thing based on the major field sports being based around pheasant shooting and game keeping?
Educate me please

Mark

 

[stag1933]

The .243 is popular because most people have access to furry and feathered vermin plus probably an odd Deer or two, usually Roe and Muntjac.
For work [ principally on Reds ] I have used mainly .30/06 and .270 and shoot any vermin with the same tool if opportunity presents itself.
My .308 Sako H/B Varminter is not an ideal tool for the `hill` due to the weight but is great for High Seat usage.
It bowls Muntys over like Rabbits with the Speer or Hornady 150gr bullets whereas sometimes with the .270 and 130gr BTSP bullet they lift their tail, fart in my face and scamper off to drop dead in the nastiest, prickly place they can find.
For vermin species I now use a .243 with V Max 75gr or 87gr bullets as it has more clout than the .22/250 which I was latterly using in Eire prior to the big rifle ban being lifted.

 

[Thar]

Hi Guys

I still dont understand the UK love affair with the 243, look at the stats 40% prefer this small calibre.
What is the big advantage over larger more flexible calibres?

Educate me please

Mark

Hi Mark

I use a 243 mainly as my roe rifle that is capable of taking a Sika should it pop out, I use it not for any ballistic advantage it give but because it is the largest calibre I can shoot and still see the animal’s reaction to the shot.

As a duel purpose vermin/deer round it works well, after all this is what it was designed for. For roe, munties, fallow does and red/sika hinds with the right bullets it is generally considered “enough good”, only when moving on to the Stags do people really start looking for a bit more clout, this when I reach for the 270.

B-b

 

[ssgpiv]

Its not a subject on which I have a great deal of experience but I use a Sako Finnlight in .243 on Roe and find the rifle extremely easy to use and carry and is very accurate. My observations are that the damage done by a well placed round is more than enough for an animal of this size.

 

[swampy]

calibres

I used a browning a bolt in 7mm08 the other day with a moderator on. It belongs to scotch-egg from pfs. when i looked at the rifle i thought "this is a bit agricultural" but it shot fantastically at 100 yards with reloads that weren't headspaced it shot 1 hole groups at 100yds and i could see the fall of shot, as i squeezed the shot off i saw the hole appear on the targetunder the cross hairs. i really like the look of the calibre as a deer round 140 gr bullets will be good. It is next on my list of aquisitions.

swampy

 

[Thar]

Hi Steve

A very popular calibre in New Zealand, I keep thing about one up from that a 280.

B-b

 

[-H-]

243 v 308

Hi all,

Surely shot placement is the key principle. I have used both cartridges. 243 is a great stalking cartridge and the 308 is a versatile cartridge, but if your marksmanship is ropy then go 308

 

[stag1933]

More sensibly if you are going for the bigger beasties go for the bigger cartridge.
In the words of the late Robert Ruark `use enough gun`.

 

[308boy]

Re: 243 v 308

Fit is this pish????

but if your marksmanship is ropy then go 308

I have never in my life.................................................................................................

 

[grizzley davey]

hello All


In an ideal world every time we take a shot the conditions would be perfect, and every shot would be perfect. The world is not ideal and we are all fallible that is why the 308 must be perferable

Better to be over powered rather than underpowered.

Craig

 

[Beowulf]

I'm glad that I own one of each. If I had to choose one of them, it would be neither. I'd go back to my trusty 6.5x55. 8)

 

[mole trapper]

Call me a ****, hey why not every one else does, , but personally it would be .243 for me, and compose the shot or not take it at all, but prefferably as Beouwulf said, give me my 6.5x55 please.

 

[Beowulf]

Moletrapper you cider drinking, pasty munching ****!!!
Nah 6.5x55 are sweet little bang sticks. 8)

How are you doing Moletrapper?

 

[deer-fox]

It must be the .308 with the knock down power,
243 are boys guns and ok for foxes

 

[geoshot]

So deer fox, ".243 a boys gun", lets see you stand in front of one then! For the little deer, munties and roe, the 243 is perfect, it's got just the right amount of hitting power, it's accurate and it's controllable for most shooters, even the nervous, and with a moddy mine is like shooting a .22. At longer ranges and for bigger species I'd go for the 308. I'm getting a second barrel for my Blaser, a 308, and I suspect that over time I will use it more. Just because the 308 would be a better choice if limited to just one calibre doesn't mean that it's smart to sneer at the 243 though. It's a useful calibre and comes with a good variety of bullets.

 

[deer-fox]

Hi geoshot
I can’t believe that you stand in ‘front of one’ if that’s your assessment as to how good it is then it’s joke, I wouldn’t what to stand in front of any gun, that doesn’t make them good. I don’t like the .243 as I have seen several Fallow lost having been shot with a 243,( PS I don’t own one)You can talk about shot placement and getting the right shot but it won’t wash with me I live in the real world which isn’t perfect every time and I find that if they are hit with the 308 it has a much better knock down, I know of several people that use 243 and they love them, Happy Hunting

 

[geoshot]

Hi deer-fox, I was only joking (admittedly in not the best taste) about standing in front of a rifle. Personally I wouldn't, or expect anyone else to, stand in front of even a loaded BB gun. I just didn't like the "boy's gun" remark, it didn't seem like a well thought out criticism to me. I use the 243 because I am a recreational stalker and shoot mostly roe, I can afford the luxury of turning down a shot I'm not absolutely dead sure of, I won't starve or mope if I go home without a deer. If I was a keeper, estate stalker or regularly stalked larger species I might consider something heavier to give me more options, but for now the 243 is enough for me. Accurate, easy to handle, good range of available ammo, acceptable meat damage and the cops approve more land for it (why they make the difference I don't know, and I bet they don't either, another thread perhaps?). What's not to like about the 243? Certainly not a "boy's gun", more like a sensible choice for a lot of stalkers like me. Happy hunting to you too!!